used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
achieveverbUS /əˈtʃiːv/
to gain with effort
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
amazedadjectiveUS /əˈmeɪzd/
filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
ariseverbUS /ərˈaɪz/
come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading And if so, how would she react under that responsibility if ever a crisis should arise?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
ASSIGNMENTnounUS /əˈsaɪnmənt/
a duty that you are assigned to perform (especially in the armed forces)
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading At once Clifford began work upon this strange assignment.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
Clifford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
CLIFFORD'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/
an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
From this reading And if so, how would she react under that responsibility if ever a crisis should arise?
definitelyadverbUS /ˈdefənətli/
without question and beyond doubt
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
degreesnounUS /dɪˈɡriːz/
plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
divisible by two
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
at any time
From this reading And if so, how would she react under that responsibility if ever a crisis should arise?
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if so, how would she react under that responsibility if ever a crisis should arise?
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And if so, how would she react under that responsibility if ever a crisis should arise?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
a small worthless amount
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
held or filled or in use
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
on one occasion
From this reading At once Clifford began work upon this strange assignment.
by chance
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
a future prospect or potential
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
reactverbUS /riˈækt/
show a response or a reaction to something
From this reading And if so, how would she react under that responsibility if ever a crisis should arise?
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
responsibilitynounUS /riˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
schemingadjectiveUS /ˈskiːmɪŋ/
acting with a specific goal
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading And if so, how would she react under that responsibility if ever a crisis should arise?
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
not in physical motion
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading At once Clifford began work upon this strange assignment.
in a strange manner
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading At once Clifford began work upon this strange assignment.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
twistverbUS /twɪst/
to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)
From this reading And at once this assignment, strange as it was to start with, took on an even stranger twist--though this new turn was not at once definitely apparent.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading And if so, how would she react under that responsibility if ever a crisis should arise?
not known
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
at the time that
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
in the company of; together with
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading At once Clifford began work upon this strange assignment.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading CLIFFORD’S NEW ASSIGNMENT When Clifford left her, though still amazed at the task she had set him, he was more occupied with a new possibility--Life worked so strangely!--that had come upon him during their talk.
worldlyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːrldli/
characteristic of or devoted to the temporal world as opposed to the spiritual world
From this reading Had Mary, through her scheming to achieve worldly place and fortune by means of Jack, come by slow degrees and perhaps unknown to herself to have a real responsibility toward Jack?
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And if so, how would she react under that responsibility if ever a crisis should arise?
